Driving mechanism



Jan. 10, 1933. 'H. R. PATTERSON DRIVING MECHANISM Filed July 22 1918 mmmx V um Hnn. m

Harry R. Pmferson v (lbw {41mg Patented Jan. 19, 1933 UITE Lttittil I'IARRY R. IATTERSOII, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T TI-IE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DRIVING MECHANISM Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to a driving mechanism for use in the starting system of an internal combustion engine. More particularly considered, the invention comprises an automatic screw gearing applicable in the gear train intermediate the electric starting motor and internal combustion engine.

An object of this inventionis to provide a driving mechanism intermediate the electric motor and engine, which has fl-exibilit y and elasticity, and in which there is no spring 'or similar elastic member in the direct line of power transmission.

Another object is to provide a type of gearing in which the driving connection and dis connection is made in an entirely automatic way. I

Another object is to utilize a gearing unit which will automatically take care of variations in engine cylinder compression.

Further objects of this invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specitication, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without dcparting from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting certain embodiments of my invention, any one of which may be the pre ferred, are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure I is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the gearing unit showing it in its disconnected position.

Figure II is a view similar to Figure I but showing the unit in connected or dr'ving posit-ion.

Figure III is a cross sectional view through the unit, taken along the lines III-III of Figure I.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the respective views, and the sectional view is taken looking in the direction of the small arrows.

Referring to the numbered parts of thedrawing, I have shown a gear 1 which is adapted to be operatively connected to the 1918. Serial No. 246,182.

1. The outer end portion of the shaft is 5.5

threaded as indicated at 4- in Figure 1, and upon this threaded portion of the shaft, a circular block or nut 5 is adapted to have threaded engagement, so that relative rotational movement of the shaft and block will cause axial movement of the block relative to the shaft. A portion of the block 5 is extended inwardly to form an annular split ring 6, integral with the block, with two inwardly projecting lugs 7 and 8, which are on opposite sides of the bea 'ing surface of the block as indicated in Figure III. A sleeve 9, the outer surface of which 18 threaded, 1S mounted upon the shaft, intermediate the motor and the block 5. Upon one end of the sleeve is 7 attached a ring or collar 10 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Upon the other end of the sleeve is formed an annular flange 11, beyond which extend two oppositely positioned lugs 12 and 13, the inner surfaces of which are adapted to have sliding engagement with the lugs 7 and 8 of the block 5. The limit of engagement of the sleeve and block is determined by the cup-shaped stampmg flange 11, and the edges of which are bent transversely and attached to the block 5 by means of screws 15. The outer sliding movement of the sleeve relative to the block is lim- 14, the base of which extends over the ited by the lugs 7 and 8, and the sleeve is $5 normally maintained in its inner position by means of the coil spring 16 positioned within the casing 11 around the sliding portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve.

In order to make driving contact with the 99 gear 1 from the motor shaft, there is provided a pinion 17 which has threaded engagement with the sleeve 9 so that it has movement axially relative to the motor shaft. The pinion has attached to its outer end, a flange 18, a portion of which is offset as indicated at 19 to form a counter-weight, the object of which will be apparent as 1e description proceeds.

As previously indicated, the block 5 is circular in outline, and the circumference of th block 5 forms a bearing for the edges of a cup-shaped casing to which it is attached by means of screws 21. The outer end of the motor shaft extends through the block 5, into the hollow formed by the cup-shaped casing 20, and upon the end of this shaft is mounted an annular plunger head disc 22, which is rigidly fastened to the shaft by means of a nut 23 on the end of the motor shaft. Adjacent the base of the casing 20, a second disc 24 which has a universal bearing on the easing base through a ball bearing 25. Intermediate the discs 22 and 24 is positioned a coiled compression spring 26, the ends of which have bearing upon the discs, and inasmuch as the outer disc 2% is prevented from outward movement by the casing, the force of the spring is employed in preventing out- Ward movement of the disc into the inte rior of the casing. When the pinion is in the position as indicated in Figure I. and the motor shaft is given a clockwise rotation as viewed in Fig. III, there will be a tendency for the shaft to screw outwardly through the block 5. This tendency of the motor shaft Will be opposed by the spring 26, and inasmuch as the inertia of the casing and block is relatively small, the force of tne spring is effective in preventing the outward move ment of the shaft an d consequently the whole drive, with the exception of the pinion, ro-

tates with the speed of the motor shaft. Because of its free threaded engagement on the sleeve 9 and due in part to the counter-weight 19, the pinion l7 advances inwardly without rotation to ard the ring 10, its teeth passing into mesh with that of the gear wheel 1. This meshing movement continues until the inner end of the pinion is in full engagement with the ring when the rotational force of the sleeve is impressed upon the pinion. Due to the great inertia of the gear 1, however, it is impossible, with the force employed, to bring the rotational speed of the gear immediately up to that of the pinion, sothat the rotation of the sleeve and hlocl: 5 is momentarily stopped.

Without the provision of some resilient means in the driving unit, the sudden stoppage of the rotation of the sleeve would result in disastrous ejects. .Vith the arrangement I have described, however, the stoppage of rotation of the sleeve and block inaugurates a screwing motion of the shaft through the block 5. which in turn brings the spring 26 into continually increasing compression as the motor shaft advances into the-interior of the casing 20. This permits a gradual application of the force of the motor to the engine gear, so that the gear gradually assumes the rotational speed of the pinion without jar or breakage.

In the event that the pinion 17, in moving axially along the shaft toward the gear, fails to mesh properly therewith, and the teeth of the pinion abut against the teeth of the gear, the sleeve 9, upon which the pinion is mounted, moves to a slight degree toward the block 5 against the resilient force of the small spring 16. By this movement, a slight rotation of the pinion is made possible, and the pinion readily moves into mesh with the gear.

From the above description, it is evident that the interconnection between motor and geir is made in an entirely automatic way, and that all possibility of damage to the moving parts of the starting mechanism is made highly improbable through the specific application of the resilient elements. It should also be apparent that the spring 26 is not in the direct line of power transmission, but that it serves merely as a cushioning element to take up the sudden jar incident to the ap plication of force to the engine gear.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and. therefore, I desire to claim the same broadly as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters ment, is

1. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a gear operatively connected to the engine; a drive shaft, a portion of which is threaded; cylindrical block on said shaft having an internal thread adapted to mesh with the threaded portion of the shaft; an externally threaded sleeve having a sliding engagement with said block; a pinion having threaded engagemem with said sleeve and adapted to have axial movement into engagement with said engine gear; and resilient means arranged to oppose axial movement of: the block on the motor shaft.

2. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a gear operatively connected. to the engine; a motor driven shaft, a portion of which is threaded: a cylindrical block on said shaft having an internal thread adapted to mesh with the threaded portion of the shaft; an externally threaded sleeve having a sliding engagement with said block; a pinion having threaded engagement with said sleeve and adapted to have axial movement into engagement with said engine pear; a casing secured to said hloclz; a compression spring seated in said casing; and a disc secured to the end of said motor shaft and adapted to engage the end of the spring.

3. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a gear operatively connected to the engine; a motor shaft, a portion of which is threaded; a block having threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the motor shaft; a sleeve on. the

motor shaft having one end secured to the block; a pinion on the sleeve having threaded engagement therewith and adapted to move into mesh with said gear; and resilient means for opposing relative longitudinal movement of said shaft and said block.

t. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a gear operatively connected to the engine; a motor shaft, a portion of which is threaded; a block having threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the motor shaft; a sleeve on the motor shaft having one end secured to the block; a pinion on the sleeve having threaded engagement ther with and adapted to move into mesh with said gear; a disc on the end of the motor shaft; a casing secured to the block; and a spring in the casing normally tending to force the disc into juxtaposition with said block.

5. The combination with an engine member of a motor driven shaft having a screw threaded portion, a nut engaging said screw threaded portion, an externally threaded sleeve mounted on said. shaft and slidably connected with said nut, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally on said sleeve into engagement with said engine member and means operatively interposed between said shaft and said nut to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

6. The combination with an engine member, of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a nut threaded on said screwthreaded portion of said shaft, driving connections between said nut and sleeve permitting limited axial movement of one relative to the other, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagementwith said engine member, and means to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

7. The combination with an engine mem ber, of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a nut threaded on said shaft and slidably connected to drive said sleeve, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said engine member, and means to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

8. The combination with an engine member, of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a nut threaded on said screwthreaded portion of the shaft, a driving connection between said nut and sleeve permitting axial movement of one relative to the other, resilient means opposing said axial movement in one direction, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally there-on into engagement with said engine member, and means to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

9. The combination with an engine member, of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw-threaded portion of theshaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft in axial alignment with said nut, said nut and sleeve being provided on the adjacent ends thereof with intermeshing means to transmit drive from one of said parts to the other, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said engine member, and means resiliently opposing longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

10. The combination with an engine member, of a motor driven shaft having a screw threaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw-threaded portion of said shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft in axial alignment with said nut, said nut and sleeve having intermeshing means on the adjacent ends thereof to transmit drive from one partto the other, a spring compressed between adjacent ends of said sleeve and nut, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with sz id engine member, and means to resihently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

11. The combination with an engine member of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw-threaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a flange on the end thereof adjacent said nut. driving connections between said nut and sleeve permitting limited axial movement of one relative to the other, a spring compressed between adjacent ends of said nut and sleeve, a retaining member carried by said nut and embracing the flange on tl e end of said sleeve, a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said engine member, and means interposed between said shaft and nut to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft.

12. The combination with an engine member of a motor driven shaft having a screw threaded portion, a nut thrgzaded on said screw-threaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and having a driv ng connection with said nut, a housing for said nut, a spring in said housing acting on sad shaft and housing to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft, and a pin on threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said en ine member.

13. The combination with an engine member, of a motor driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw-threaded portion, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and having a driving connection with said nut, a housing secured to said nut, a plate secured to the end of said shaft within said housing, a spring interposed between said plate and the end of. said housing to resiliently oppose longitudinal movement of said nut and sleeve on said shaft and a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said engine member.

14. The combination with an engine, of a motor driven shaft having a serew-threaded portion, a nut threaded on said screw-threaded portion, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, said sleeve andnut having intermeshing means on adjacent ends thereof, a boneing secured to said nut, a plate secured to the end of said shaft within said housing, a spring interposed between the end of said housing and said plate, and a pinion threaded on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon into engagement with said engine member.

15. An engine starter comprising in combination a driving shaft, a screw-threaded sleeve mounted on said shaft, a driven member screw-threaded on said sleeve and a yielding driving connection between said shaft and said sleeve, said connection including a screw, a nut thereon and a sprng arranged to be compressed by the longitudinal movement of said nut on said screw.

16. An engine starter comprising in combination a driving shaft having a screwthreaded portion, a driven shaft, a driven member screw-threaded on said driven shaft and adapted to engage a rotative element of an engine and screw-threaded means adapted to engage the threaded portion of said driving shaft and said driven shaft, for transmitting rotative movement from the former to the latter.

1?. An engine starter comprising in combination a motor driven shaft, a sleeve mounted thereon, a pinion screw-threaded on said sleeve and adapted to engage a toothed rotative member of an engine, a nut screw-threaded on said shaft, means w iereby said nut rotates said sleeve and means for increasing the friction between said nut and said shaft as said nut moves axially thereon.

18. A drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft, a drive pinion concentric therewith slidably mounted wit-h reference to the shaft, and a plurality of screw connections in the line of power transmission intermediate said shaft and pinion.

19. An engine starter comprising, in combination, an engine member; a driving shaft; a screw threaded sleeve mounted on said shaft; a driven element screw threaded on said sleeve and adapted to be moved into driving relation with said engine member; a member carried by said shaft and having driving connection therewith; means for op eratively connecting said member and said sleeve permitting axial movement of one relative to the other; and means cooperating with said shaft automatically yieldable in conformity with the resistance of the engine member to rotation for gradually building up torque to overcome said resistance.

20. An engine starter comprising, in combination, a driving shaft; a screw threaded sleeve mounted on said shaft; a pinion screw threaded on said sleeve; a member carried by said shaft and having a driving connection therewith; means comprising interlocking projections for establishing a positive driv ing connection between said member and said sleeve, said member and said connecting means permitting axial movement of said member and sleeve; and resilient means interposition ed between the membe and sleeve normally adapted to oppose the relative axial movement of said member and sleeve.

21. An engine starter drive including a driven member mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a member adapted to connect between a member of the engine to be started and said driven member and mounted on the latter for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving shaft on which such driven member is mounted, and a rotatable driving member operatively connected with the shaft and with the driven member at all times for imparting positive rotary movement thereto from the driving member and permitting such driven member to move longitudinally said driven member partaking of all rotary movements of the driving member under all conditions of operation.

22. An engine starter drive including a driven member mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a member adapted to connect between a member of the engine to be started and said driven member and mounted on the latter for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving shaft on which such driven member is mounted, a rotatable driving member oper atively connected with the shaft and with the driven member at all times for imparting positive rotary movement thereto from the driving member and permitting longitudinal movement of the driven member with respect to the driving member, and means for yieldingly resisting such longitudinal movement of the driven member said driven member partaking of all rotary movements of the driving member under all conditions of operation.

23. An engine starter drive including a driven member mounted for rotary and limgitudinal movement, a member adapted to connect between a member of the engine to be started and said driven member and mounted on the latter for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving shaft on which such driven member is mounted, a rotatable driving member operatively connected with the shaft and with the driven member at all times for imparting positive rotary movement thereto from the driving member and permitting longitudinal movement of the driven member with respect to the driving member, and a spring for yieldingly resisting such longitudinal movement of the driven member said driven member partaking of all rotary movements of the driving member under all conditions of operation.

24:. An engine starter drive including a driven member mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a'member adapted to connect a member of the engine to be started and said driven member and mounted on the latter for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driven shaft on which such driven member is mounted, and a rotatable driving member operatively connected with said shaft and keyed to the driven member for positive rotary movement from the driving member and for longitudinal movement of the driven member with respect to the driving member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HARRY R. PATTERSON. 

